Jake Hughes
The Paw Print
In Local news, the San Luis Valley Labor Day weekend offered plenty of events for people looking to enjoy their weekend. Events spanning from Alamosa, Antonito, and Creede all took place beginning August 29 through August 31.
The 34th annual Early Iron Festival took the headlines this weekend with an expected record setting amount of vintage automobiles. 550 pre-1979 automobiles were estimated to be on show to the public. The Early Iron Festival isn’t just a great way for families and the public to enjoy their Labor Day weekend; it brings in a huge revenue source for local business and the community.
Live entertainment, parades, a balloon festival, salsa fiesta, and the mountain run all took place over the weekend in Antonito and Creede.
In regional news,
After several months of recreational marijuana sales in Colorado, new goals have been set by state regulators to increase production and retail sales.
According to Ron Kammerzell, deputy senior director of enforcement for the state Department of Revenue, the state is currently under producing which in turn sends consumers back to the black market due to the rising price. The overlying goal of Amendment 64 is to combat the black market, however, of the consumed 103.3 metric tons of marijuana only 77 tons are produced by the state. The remaining 55.3 tones are produced by the grey market, which consists of home growers who can legally grow six plants, and the black market that consist of gangs.
As the industry in Colorado grows and more data is available to analysis, regulators hope to fully compete and eradicate the black market so the legal market can flourish even more.
In National news,
An FBI investigation into the leak of nude photos of a number of celebrities raises the question about internet security and privacy.
Jennifer Lawrence was among the celebrities’ whose email account was hacked and photos leaked on various websites.
“The FBI is aware of the allegations concerning computer intrusions and the unlawful release of material involving high profile individuals and is addressing the matter,” FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said Monday. “Any further comment would be inappropriate at this time.”
Apple also confirmed that they will be investigating a possible compromise to their online data backup iCloud.
In International news,
Tensions in Iraq have risen as Iraqi Shia militias and Kurdish forces continue their advance against Islamic State militants after breaking the siege of Amerli in northern Iraq.
Violence in Iraq has risen intensely in recent months due to IS, formerly known as Isis, and Sunni rebels taking control of large parts of northern and western Iraq.
The Islamic state has launched a campaign of ethnic cleansing in the areas they have control of in an attempt to eradicate non-Arabs and non-Sunni Muslims.
Thousands of people have been killed, the majority of which are civilians, and more than a million people have been forced to flee their homes.
As a result of this both the United States and the United Kingdom are on severe terror alerts.
What’s Been Said…